anxious to do

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anxious to do" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing eagerness or a strong desire to perform a specific action. Example: "She was anxious to do well on her final exams, so she studied late into the night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Opinion

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"We're anxious to do more," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

We are anxious to do that.

The New York Times

"He's very anxious to do more, but we'll go slow".

The New York Times - Sports

She offered sound advice and urged resolution on a president anxious to do the right thing.

The New York Times

"People are anxious to do something and that's all very, very positive," he said.

The New York Times

Quick was anxious to do whatever he could to get his prison time reduced.

The New York Times

As soon as we can take advantage of that, we're anxious to do so.

The New York Times - Sports

I know the orchestra is very anxious to do it as well.

The New York Times - Arts

"What they are really anxious to do is go back home," Ms. Campbell said.

The New York Times

"I was never anxious to do talk shows as I didn't know what to say.

The Guardian - Film

I was anxious: to do the job right, not to let my party down, not to let myself down.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "anxious to do" to convey a sense of eagerness and anticipation, especially when the action is perceived as positive or desirable. For example, "The team was anxious to start the new project after months of planning".

Common error

Avoid using "anxious to do" when you mean to express worry or nervousness about performing an action. "Anxious" in this context means 'eager', not 'worried'. If you intend to express worry, rephrase the sentence. Instead of "She was anxious to speak in public", consider "She was nervous about speaking in public".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anxious to do" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, modifying a subject to express eagerness or a strong desire to perform a particular action. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Sports

12%

Opinion

10%

Less common in

Books

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "anxious to do" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey eagerness or a strong desire to perform a specific action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, though care should be taken to avoid confusion with expressing worry. Alternatives such as "eager to do" or "keen to do" can be used for subtle variations in meaning. Its frequent appearance in News & Media, Sports, and Opinion pieces demonstrates its widespread acceptance and applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eager to do

Replaces "anxious" with "eager", a direct synonym expressing enthusiasm.

keen to do

Substitutes "anxious" with "keen", implying a strong interest and willingness.

desirous of doing

Uses a more formal tone, replacing "anxious" with "desirous" and changing the verb form.

longing to do

Emphasizes a deep yearning or strong wish, implying a sense of anticipation.

yearning to do

Similar to "longing to do", highlights a heartfelt desire and expectation.

itching to do

Suggests an almost uncontrollable urge or restlessness to start something.

can't wait to do

Expresses impatience and excitement, implying a strong desire to begin soon.

impatient to do

Directly indicates a lack of patience and a strong urge to proceed.

in a hurry to do

Focuses on the speed and urgency with which someone wants to act.

have a strong desire to do

Uses a more descriptive phrase, replacing the adjective with a noun phrase.

FAQs

What does "anxious to do" mean?

"Anxious to do" means eager or strongly wanting to do something. It conveys a sense of anticipation and excitement about performing a particular action.

How can I use "anxious to do" in a sentence?

You can use "anxious to do" to describe someone's eagerness or strong desire to perform an action. For example: "The students were anxious to start their summer vacation".

What are some alternatives to "anxious to do"?

You can use alternatives like "eager to do", "keen to do", or "can't wait to do" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "anxious to do" even if I'm feeling worried?

While "anxious" can mean worried, "anxious to do" typically implies eagerness. If you're feeling worried, it's best to use phrases like "nervous about doing" or "concerned about doing" to avoid confusion.